csrlice12
Postmaster
Reged: 05/22/12
Loc: Denver, CO
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: stargazer424]
#5668592 - 02/08/13 09:36 AM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Live in the Southwest?
|
Greyhaven
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/11/04
Loc: Greater downtown Maine
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: csrlice12]
#5668843 - 02/08/13 11:57 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Yes you're scorpion bait. 
Be Well
Grey
|
Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)
Reged: 06/24/03
Loc: Los Angeles
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: elisek]
#5676932 - 02/13/13 01:33 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Hi, its cold outside. I want to know what people are doing to keep warm and not freeze.
Also on telescope equipment: I am interested in those scope dew heaters, but i am afraid to use one, because when i did turn on my dob's built in fan, the battery pack exploded, and the dew/wetness might of shorted it out, so i need suggestions on how to safely keep my scopes (dob/sct/refractor) and eyepieces from freezing and fogging up.
I haven't been out in months, so your useful tips are greatly appreciated.
Feet: cotton socks, wool sox, Sorels Dominator boots (good to -85)
Legs: fleece tights, more fleece tights, down pants, thinsulate pants, GoreTex outer layer
Head: two layers of balaclavas, 3-5 fleece or cotton hoods, 2 downfilled hoods
Hands: fleece-line wool mittens.
--Torso: 2-3 Sweatshirts with hoods, 4-5 fleece layers, some with hoods, two down parkas with hoods. Outer layer size XXXL to fit over up to 11 under layers.
At 0 degrees F, I can stay out all night till dawn and be reasonably warm.
The key is to add another layer any time you notice the cold, Never get cold because regaining the heat is impossible. Drink warm coffee or similar once per hour to warm up the insides.
In truly cold weather, batteries must be in an insulated box to keep them from freezing or at least losing most of their voltage. An ice chest works great to keep the battery warm if you don't have a battery box.
|
hm insulators
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/22/07
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: csrlice12]
#5677313 - 02/13/13 09:47 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Live in the Southwest?
Perfect solution! 
|
lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: Starman1]
#5677318 - 02/13/13 09:51 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
In truly cold weather, batteries must be in an insulated box to keep them from freezing or at least losing most of their voltage. An ice chest works great to keep the battery warm if you don't have a battery box.
very good tip. 
|
csrlice12
Postmaster
Reged: 05/22/12
Loc: Denver, CO
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: lamplight]
#5677328 - 02/13/13 09:57 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Great, now explain to the nice policeman what you're doing driving around at night with an icechest full of batteries and wires.....and sticky dew cord looks like explosive cord....... 
|
spencerj
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/17/04
Loc: Londonderry, NH
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: csrlice12]
#5677351 - 02/13/13 10:14 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Sounds like you could survive a week in the Arctic, Don. How long does it take to put on all of those layers?
Winter is my favorite time of the year to observe. I love the crisp, clean feeling of a cold, clear, quiet night. There are no bugs or skunks to contend with and the planets and the moon are high in the sky.
These days, I am limited to my suburban backyard (overnight trips to dark skies are out of the question with a newborn at home). I am usually outside for 1.5-2 hours. As long as it is around 10*F I am more than comfortable with my snowboard pants, boots, winter jacket and a hat. I bring gloves, but only wear them when moving my cold telescopes.
|
Tony Flanders
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/06
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: csrlice12]
#5677405 - 02/13/13 10:48 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Live in the Southwest?
In my experience, stargazers in the Southwest have more trouble with cold weather than people anywhere else in the U.S.
That's due to several factors. First of all, the desert cools off in a hurry as soon as the Sun sets. Second, the best observing sites are often at some altitude, where it gets really cold at night. Finally, people there tend to live in a kind of winter-denial, not even owning clothing that would be adequate for staying outside long on a stormy day, let alone at night.
|
Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)
Reged: 06/24/03
Loc: Los Angeles
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5677504 - 02/13/13 11:35 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Live in the Southwest?
In my experience, stargazers in the Southwest have more trouble with cold weather than people anywhere else in the U.S.
That's due to several factors. First of all, the desert cools off in a hurry as soon as the Sun sets. Second, the best observing sites are often at some altitude, where it gets really cold at night. Finally, people there tend to live in a kind of winter-denial, not even owning clothing that would be adequate for staying outside long on a stormy day, let alone at night.
Yup.
That's why I said someone only brings the wrong clothes to Mt. Pinos (8350') once. The next time they come prepared for cold weather. I've seen it reach 32F at night in August when it was 90F down below during the day.
And I'll vouch for cold in the desert: 17F last month and 27F this month at the New Moon.
The largest temperature swing I ever saw was from 108F in the day to 35F at night, and that was in the desert.
I still find it amusing to see people wearing down jackets in L.A. when the temperature is 50F.
But we have to travel so far to see dark skies, no matter what the temperature is, I'm sure not retiring for the night after only a couple hours of observing. I just keep putting on layers until I no longer feel the cold.
(think Michelin Man).
Edited by Starman1 (02/13/13 11:39 AM)
|
Benson
super member
Reged: 05/22/10
Loc: -6 gmt
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: Starman1]
#5678684 - 02/14/13 01:12 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
A pair of cotton socks with a plastic bag between them. A silk or satin glove with a latex glove over that will suffice for the hands. Add layers as desired. A latex glove outside of insulating gloves provides a good grip on ep's, etc.
|
Laz
member
Reged: 10/18/12
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: csrlice12]
#5678689 - 02/14/13 01:19 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
In addition to layered clothing I stuff heat packs into shirt and pants pockets, they last 6 hours and provide an instant warm up for hands by putting your hand into a pocket
|
MrFancypants
member
Reged: 07/05/12
Loc: Swift Current, SK
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: Laz]
#5678922 - 02/14/13 08:02 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
A fur bomber hat and a down jacket are hard to beat. I was out in -28C in December and stayed nice and warm in them with longjohns, lined skipants and boots.
|
Bob Griffiths
Getting Grouchy
Reged: 10/10/05
Loc: Frederick Maryland
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: Doc Bob]
#5679564 - 02/14/13 02:02 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
. . . heated motorcycle outfits . . . Batteries for go-to, telrad, i-pad, and suit!
LOL... I also use Heated Motorcycle clothing...Gerbrings stuff...BUT I also cannot stand the bulk so I use a simple long sleeved jacket LINER which I wear over a simple t-shirt but under a hooded sweatshirt...not bulky at all...in addition I use a pair of glove liners that I purchased one size too small so they fit tight andI have no trouble typing at the computer of swapping out eyepieces etc with them on...They have the heating elements between each individual finger and on the back of the hand... use a pair of mittens over them with exposed fingers...I also wear heated socks.. I had my wife sew in the cables in the inseam of an old pair of sweat pants to connect the socks to the jacket .. Plus I use a regulator to increase or decrease the amount of heat going to the socks or gloves and the jacket itself... I'm quite comfortable down well below freezing..and I end to not have the heat turned up much past 1/2 way...even to the socks...
For about %500.00 the clothing was one of my better buys...also serves me well when I have to use the snow blower after I mounted a battery n the snow blower...lol
Many guys spend more then $500 just on a single eyepiece...I think my clothing was a much better use of my money..
( www.heatedclothing4you.com )
Bob G.
|
northernontario
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/01/09
Loc: Porcupine, Ontario Canada
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: Bob Griffiths]
#5680235 - 02/14/13 09:21 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Come and spend some time with me.
I'll have ya winter ready in a jiffy.
jake
|
Al Canarelli
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/06/07
Loc: Central New Jersey
|
Re: How do you keep warm in cold northeastern nights?
[Re: stargazer424]
#5680518 - 02/15/13 01:02 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I've given up years ago on viewing during the months of Dec., Jan. or Feb. It's just too cold here for me. If we get a cloudless night that's not too cold, I break out my 6" SCT. However, if you must view when it's really cold, I suggest you layer up real good and keep this thought in mind...think of those summer mosquitoes along with all of his friends draining the blood from your body as you watch. That thought should keep you trucking even during the coldest night.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
